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A lady with a love for literature and shiny things discusses books & bling.

The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan.

My review of The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan a love story about an American exchange student and Prince.
The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan.

This book is: loosely William-and-Kate-inspired and exactly what I hoped it would be.
Other elements: my own personal fantasies, the English Royal family, weddings, an American exchange student in England.
Read them: if you like a good love story and especially if you find the idea of princes interesting.
Overall rating: 8.5/10

I’ve reviewed a couple of Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan’s books for you before – both from their series set in LA, about privileged rich kids. Those books were fun and fluffy, and I enjoyed them. This book is like the grown-up older sister of those books: the characters are more complex, the plot is more complicated, the writing is tighter, and the force of the story is more driving.

As I mentioned, The Royal We is loosely inspired by the love story of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The heroine in The Royal We is, however, an American who is studying abroad in England. An American with the same name as me, which was like an extra little bonus for daydreaming purposes. And did I mentioned I studied abroad in England, too?

What impressed me was how completely this book – which was somewhat inspired by real life – managed to feel like a completely original series of events. Yes, the royal family in The Royal We sounds a little familiar, down to the charmingly rakish red-headed younger Prince, but the characters are all their own people and the background is different enough to keep the reader guessing. Bex’s engagement ring sounds like Kate’s, but it’s still thrilling to see her get it.

I don’t want you thinking this is a sugary fairy tale story: like any couple, Bex and her prince have their ups and downs, and when your wedding is so completely in the public eye your downs can be pretty dire.

The one downside of The Royal We for me was that I read it two weeks before my wedding, and the super intense pre-wedding prep that I watched Bex endure sent me into a bit of a panic attack about my own wedding. Because obviously, I should have been preparing as if I were marrying into a royal family. (I cried a little and then had some wine and calmed down.)

There’s one more thing you should know when you’re deciding if you want to read The Royal We  and I can sum it up in one word: tiaras.

Trust me. Best tiara scene EVER.

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Affordable Art Deco engagement rings under $4,000.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my blog’s mission – what I want it to mean, what my reason for being is as a blogger. And I think it’s this: I firmly believe that anyone can love jewelry, regardless of income, education, or experience and that a love of jewelry at any level is worthwhile and should be embraced. What I want to do with my blog is help bring jewelry to you: the aspirational (to admire) and the affordable (to purchase when we can).

For today’s post, I’ve rounded up some of the loveliest affordable Art Deco engagement rings at reachable price points ranging from >$1,000 to the upper $3,000’s. That’s still not pocket change, but it’s a more available budget than people often assume you need for antiques. Because if you want an Art Deco engagement ring, you should have one.

Antique Art Deco engagement ring from the 1920s-1930s, in white gold with a .22 carat old European cut diamond and geometric openwork details.

This white gold die-struck beauty from the 1920’s-1930’s is the one that ring the idea for this post. Look at that classic Chrysler building-esque geometric Art Deco openwork design. Such visual impact, even though it’s a petite piece. Unique and alluring.

Beautiful antique Art Deco engagement ring with sapphires, a European-cut diamond and a beautiful, engraved white gold shank.

This affordable Art Deco engagement ring is lovely on its own, but it has two details that really take it over the top: the calibre-cut sapphires on the sides of the central stone, and incredible floral openwork in the gallery.

Antique Art Deco engagement ring with openwork details, baguette diamonds, and a bright-white European-cut diamond.

This unassuming little beauty is probably my personal favorite of the bunch. Those two perfectly placed voids of negative space on either side of the main stone, flanked by a single diamond baguette on each side, are what make me look at this piece again and again.

Elegant antique emerald cut engagement ring from the late Art Deco period, engraved "RJB to GCK 8-2-’40" on the inside of the shank.

If this late Art Deco ring‘s simple elegance isn’t enough to bewitch you, you should know it has a secret: it’s engraved “RJB to GCK 8-2-’40” on the inside of the shank. Sigh.

Beautiful antique Art Deco engagement ring in the three stone style, with a trio of diamonds set in intricate yellow and white gold filigree.

This three stone beauty is the only one of today’s affordable Art Deco engagement rings to have multiple shades of gold. How beautiful is the combination of that lacy yellow gold filigree with the shining white of the diamonds’ setting? Such a unique and lovely piece.

Antique Art Deco diamond ring with a fabulous geometric design.

Have you ever seen anything quite like this ring? It’s Art Deco all the way: gloriously geometric, almost blockish, and so interesting. It wouldn’t be right for everyone, but I’m sure its soulmate is out there somewhere, waiting for it.

Affordable Art Deco engagement rings under $4,000

I’m cutting myself off at this point – there are so many more affordable Art Deco engagement rings out there, but I think the beauties above are a good sampling. What do you think of these rings, my dears? Does any one of them call to you?

These affordable Art Deco engagement rings are all currently for sale at Lang Antiques. All images and info in this post are via Lang Antiques.

What I’m reading: Vol 39.

What I'm reading

Nightstand: Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. An old favorite, and a periodic reread. As good as ever,

Coffee table: Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes. Just diving into this, but I’m looking forward to it – I’ve heard great things.

On the metro: Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll. I enjoyed this. It’s definitely dark and kind of jagged, but well done. Trigger warning for both sexual violence and regular violence.

Internets:

Ladies day at Royal Ascot!!! Hats upon hats. You’re welcome.

Erstwhile Jewelry Co. wrote a post all about Jackie Kennedy’s engagement ring.

Stockings in the 18th century: fascinating and illustrated with paintings!

I thought this post from Miss DC USA defending the swimsuit portion of beauty pageants was interesting. I’m not sure I buy it, though. What do you think?

This slideshow of the best nightgowns from Mad Men is so perilous to my wallet. I LOVE vintage nightgowns. But they forgot Joan’s dreamy green caped wonder from late in the final season!

What do ads featuring women look like when you remove all the words? Totally disturbing, it turns out.

A scintillating post from Two Nerdy History Girls about the (in)famous ball that took place on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo.

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